The phrase "What a trill!" in the context of the NYT Strands puzzle on May 2, 2025, refers to birds, specifically songbirds known for their trilling or melodious calls. The puzzle's theme revolves around birds that produce musical sounds, and the spangram (a key puzzle word spanning the grid) for that day was "SONGBIRDS"
. "Trill" here is a direct hint to the sound birds make, which is a rapid fluttering or quavering note often heard in bird songs. The puzzle included bird names such as LARK, WREN, SPARROW, WARBLER, CARDINAL, and CHICKADEE, all of which are songbirds famous for their trilling calls
. In summary:
- A "trill" is a type of musical sound or call, often associated with birds.
- The NYT Strands puzzle used this as a theme to feature songbird names.
- The spangram was "SONGBIRDS," emphasizing the musical, trilling nature of these feathered friends
Thus, "What a trill!" is a playful clue pointing to birds and their characteristic trilling songs in the puzzle.
